Apparatus for cementing wells



Dec. 2e, i933.

M. MANNING APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed March 4, 19:52

Patented Dec. 26, 1933 1341.496 APPARATUS FOB CEMENTING WELLS una. mmm. umn, nx.

Application March 4, 1932.' Serial No. 596,684

10 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and process for cementing wells.- Y

An object oi' the invention is to provide apparatus whereby cementitious material may be introduced, in plastic state, into a well arounda casing or other pipe therein andmaintained in the vwell about said casing or pipe until the material has set.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this character which is-provided with one or more outlet openings to permit the outlet of the cementitious material about the casing or pipe, at the desired point, with means for normally closing said opening to permit washing fluid to be sent down through the pipe for washing the well, said closing means being arranged to open when the load of cement is lowered to permit said cement to be discharged out into the space between the casing, or pipe, and the walls ofthe 20 bore; and the invention further cumprehends means for closing said openings, upon the discharge of said load, to prevent the back flow of said material into the casing, or pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single string of pipe, adapted to be let down into a well-and having an outlet opening with means for controlling-the opening whereby'said opening may be normally blocked; said means being adapted to be opened to permit the discharge of a load oi plastic cement sent down through the string and then closed to prevent the back iiow of said cement.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described whereby the cement which has become set about'the casing, or pipe, in the well will be reinforced and protected against becoming cracked or injured during the drilling out process to clear the pipe of obstructions.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel method whereby a cementitious seal may be formed between a single tubular string in a well bore and the surrounding walls of the well bore to separate the strata and to prevent the fluid in the well from passing the seal from stratum to stratum.

With the-above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, and to a novel method, an example of which is given in this specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure l shows a vertical sectional view of the 55 apparatus in positionafter the load of cement (Cl. 18s-l) has been discharged into the well about the string.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the apparatus in position to discharge the load of cement.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of the apparatus before the load has been discharged.

Flgure4showsacrosseectionviewtakenon the line 4-4 of Figure 3. g5

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the numeral 1 designates a single string of pipe' in a well bore, which, if desired, may have a screen as 2 incorporated therein. A special coupling 3 connects adjacent sections of the 70 string; as shown this special coupling connecte the screen into the string.

vThis coupling may have one, or more, outlet openings, as 4, therethrough. There is a sleeve valve 5 secured in the coupling 3, by a frangible 75 pin 8, in position to normally close the openings 4. The lower end of this valve 5 has a plug 'l attached thereto having a fluid passageway 8 controlled by the downwardly opening back pressure valve 9. Above the openings 4 there is a s0 sleeve valve 10 pinned in the coupling 3 by the frangible pin 11.

'The string, assembled as above described, with the valves 5 and 10 pinned therein, as shown in Figure 3, but without the plugs, hereinafter deg5 scribed, therein may now be let down into the bore to locate the screen at the desired place.

As the string is lowered the valve 9 will be closed toprevent the well fluid from entering the string above. Washing iluid may now be forced down 00 through the string, past the back pressure valve '9, and down around the screen and back up outside of the string to wash the screen and well.

A bottom plug l2 may then be inserted into the upper end of the string and the desired quantity of plastic cement 13 thenl loaded into the string above said bottom plug. 'I'his bottom plug vis formed solid and may be of wood, cement, or other suitable material and is of a diameter to readily pass through the valve 10 and to land in the 100 valve 5. This plug 12 may have 'an upwardly opening, flexible, cup ring 14 around the upper end thereof, which will expand against the walls of the string but which has suillcient ilexibility to contract and readily enter the valves 10, 5. A top plug 15 is then inserted into the string above the load of plastic cement. This top plug is similar to the bottom plug but is slightly larger in diameter so as to fit snugly in the string 1, and to enter the valve 10. This top. plug has an upuntil it lands on the upper end ot the screen and clears the openings 4. The load of cement between the plugs 12, -15 will now be discharged out around the string 1 and will'pass downward'- ly and upwardly from said openings, being supported on the heavy drilling fluid about the string and will form a seal between the string and the walls of the' bore all around the string. A continuation of the pressure will cause the upper 'plug 15 to enter the upper valve 10 and to land -'on the internal annular stop 23 of said upper valve and shear the pin 11l thereof and said valve '10 will then move downwardly and land on the lower valve 5 in position to close the openings 4 and the pump will thereupon be stalled to indicate to the operator that the load of cement has been discharged, and the upper valve 10 will thereafter prevent ,the back ilow of the cement from the bore into the string when th'e pressure is relieved. 'Ihe cement is then permitted to After the load of cement and the lower and upper plugs 12 and 15 are in the string a. reducing nipple, as 18, may be attached to the upper end of the string and a valve controlled pressure line, as 19, connected thereto through which the pressure fluid may be applied to lower the load of cement, as shown in Figure 1.

After the cement has set a drilling tool may be lowered into the string and the plugs 12, 15 and 7 drilled out to permit the oil flowing into the screen to flow on up, or be pumped up, through the string to the ground surface. The lower valve 5 has a clutch tooth or shoulder, as 19, on its lower end engageable with a similar tooth or shoulder 20 on the upper end of the screen and the valve 10 is clutched to the valve 5, similarly by the engaging teeth or shoulders 21, 22, to prevent these valves from turning during the drilling out process.

The valve 10, when in position to cover the ports 4,- will protect the set cement and prevent the same from becoming cracked or injured, to permit a leak, during the drilling out of said plugs. At

times the pipe to be cemented may be very close to the wall of the bore so that the cement, when it sets, is very thin and unless protected will become cracked or shattered by the process of drilling out said plugs, or otherwise, hence the necessity of protecting the same as above specified.

When the plugs have been drilled out and the well is producing the valve 10 will also prevent the leakage of the fluid out through the openings 4 in case of a defective cementing job.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered a preferred form of the invention and a preferred method of practising the same, by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be deiined by the appended claims.

What I claim is: l

l. The combination with a single tubular string having a lateral port, of lower and upper means in the string for conning a load of plastic cementitious material therein. lower and upper means inthe string for controlling said port and arranged to be moved successively, by said confining means, lto open said port to permit the discharge o! said material and to then close the port to prevent the back ilow of said materialV into the string. A

2. The combination with a tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a discharge port, of lower and upper valves in the string for controlling said port, lower and upper plugs in the string for conilning a load of cementitious material to be lowered through the string, said valves being arranged to be moved by said respective plugs successively to open said port. to permitv the discharge of said material into the space between said string and the walls of the bore and to then close said port to trap said mate- -rial in said space.

3. The combination with a tubular vstring .adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a lateral outlet of a'lower valve retained in position to close said opening, an upper valve in the string retained in position above said opening, lower and upper means in the string arranged to confine a load of cementitious material to be lowered through the string, said means being effective, one to move the lower valve into position to clear said opening and the other to move said upper valve into position to close said Opening. 4 i

4. The combination with a single tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a discharge opening, of upper and lower means in the string conilning a load of cementitious material between them and movable downwardly to effect the'discharge of said material through said opening, means in the string normally closing said opening and arranged to be actuated by said lower confining means into position to clear said opening to permit such discharge and other means in the string arranged to be actuated by the upper conning means to thereafter close said opening to prevent the backow of said material into the string.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a single. tubular string adapted tobe let down into a well bore and having a lateral discharge port, a downwardly movable lower sleeve valve releasably retained in position to close said 125 port, a downwardly movable upper sleeve valve releasably retained in the string in position to clear said port and having a greater inside diameter than that of the lower valve.

6. Apparatus of the character described com- 180 prising a single tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a lateral discharge port, a downwardly movable lower sleeve valve releasably retained in position to close said port, a downwardly movable upper sleeve valve 135 releasably retained in the string in position to clear said port said upper valve having a greater inside diameter than that of the lower value,'and stop means for limiting the downward movement of the lower valve.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a single tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a lateral discharge port, means in the string confining a load of plastic cementitious material and movable 145 downwardly to effect the discharge of said Amaterial through said port into the space between the string and the walls of the bore, means associated with the string for closing said port and arranged to be actuated by the pressure of said 150 confining means to successively open and close said port to permit the discharge of, and to prevent the back ilow of, said material.

8. Thev combination with a single tubular string having a lateral port, of upper and lower means in the string for confining a load of plastic, cementitious material therein, upper and lower means in the string for controlling said port and arranged to be moved by said confining means, respectively, in succession, to open said port to permit the discharge of said material and to then close the port to prevent'l inward or outward iiow therethrough.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a single tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a lateral discharge port, a downwardly movable lower tubular valve releasably retained in position to close said port, a downwardly movable upper tubular valve releasably retained in the string above said port and having a greater inside diameter than that of the lower valve, lower and upper coni'lning means in the string for conning a load of cementitious material between them, said lower confining means being shaped to pass through the upper valve and to engage the lower valve and said upper confining means being shaped to engage the upper valve, said confining means being arranged to be actuated downwardly through said string by the application of fluid pressure against the upl per conning means to successively actuate the lower valve downwardly to open said port to permit the discharge of said material and to actuate the upper valve downwardly to thereafter close said port.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a single tubular string adapted to be let down into a well bore and having a lateral discharge port, a downwardly movable lower tubular valve releasably retained in position to close said port, a downwardly movable upper tubular valve releasably retained in the string above said port and having a greater inside diameter than that of the lower valve, lower and upper confining means in the string for confining a load of cementitious material between them, said lower confining means being shaped to pass through the upper valve and to engage the lower valve and said upper conning means being shaped to engage the upper valve, said confining means being arranged to be actuated downwardly through said string by the application of fluid pressure against the upper confining means to successively actuate the lower valve downwardly to open said port to permit the discharge of said material and to actuate the upper valve downwardly to thereafter close said port, said lower valve having a passage for fluid therethrough and a downwardly opening valve controlling said passage.

MARGIA MANNING. 

